Schedule recurring payments to start in the future

When creating a payment link, quote, legacy quote, or subscription, set a recurring line item's billing start date to the future. This enables you to collect on confirmed future subscription payments from your buyers. 

For example, you can:

• Collect an initial payment for building a website while also scheduling monthly billing for SEO services starting six months in the future.
• Collect an initial payment for an installation while also scheduling monthly maintenance billing starting one month in the future.
• Sign a customer up for a quarterly subscription service two months in advance without billing them until their subscription starts. 

Below, learn how to configure a recurring line item to start billing on a future date.

Setting a recurring line item's billing start date for payment links and quotes

When setting up line items for your payment link, quote, or legacy quote, set the line item billing start date by adjusting the Billing start date or Delayed billing start by days and Delayed billing start by months columns in the line item editor. 

To set the billing start date:

1. Create a payment link, quote, or legacy quote.
2. When adding your line items, to set a future billing start date from the line item table:

• • In the Billing Frequency column, click the dropdown menu and select the frequency. 
  • In the Billing Start Date column, click the dropdown menu and then select one of the following options:
    • Custom Date: a specific date in the future. After selecting this option, in the right panel, under Billing start date click the date picker, select the start date, then click Save.
    • Delayed start (days): delay the billing start date by a number of days after checkout. After selecting this option, in the right panel, in the Delayed billing start by days field, enter the number of days.
    • Delayed start (months): delay the billing start date by a number of months after checkout. After selecting this option, in the right panel, in the Delayed billing start by months field, enter the number of months.
      
      
      

1. • You can also enter a number in the Delayed billing start by days and Delayed billing start by months columns. If you can't see the columns, learn how to add or remove columns.

Please note: this configuration allows you to collect on confirmed future payments from your buyers. You should consult your own legal advisors if you plan on using this tool to collect on other payment options.

3. Continue setting up the payment link, quote, or legacy quote.

Setting a recurring line item's billing start date for subscriptions

While setting up line items for your subscription, you can adjust its billing start date by updating the Billing start date column. 

1. Create a subscription.
2. When adding your line items, click the Billing frequency dropdown menu and select the frequency.
3. To delay billing until a specific date, in the Billing start date column, click the date picker and select a start date.

Please note: this configuration allows you to collect on confirmed future payments from your buyers. You should consult your own legal advisors if you plan on using this tool to collect on other payment options.

4. Continue setting up the subscription.

Viewing payments links or quotes before the start date

In this example, a machine installation has been charged up front, with a recurring maintenance fee billed for a future date. With the future start date selected for the maintenance fee, buyers who view the payment link or quote before that start date will see a Future Payments Summary section with details about the recurring subscription item, in addition to the one-off, up front fee.

This information will also be included in their receipt and your merchant copy. The Total at checkout will only include the initial payment, not any future charges.

Invoices will be sent on each billing date, and will show the total due on that date.